Detroit Autorama Awards

The Detroit Autorama is known for a lot of memorable moments. The presentation of the Don Ridler Memorial Award, sponsored by GM Performance Division; the Pirelli Great 8 Finalists; Autorama Extreme, presented by 89X; Pinstripers Charity Auction, brought about by the Motor City Auto Art Mavens (who raise money for Leader Dogs for the Blind); and a handful of individual awards given out by a legendary customizer and car company, and two hot rodders who just happen to work for STREET RODDER.

2/19The first recipient of the Best Ford in a Ford award for 2010 was John "Jessie" James and his XL27 highboy roadster.

Mike Alexander, one-half of the legendary tandem brothers (Larry and Mike) of the Alexander Brothers (or A-Brothers, as each or both are often called), is present each year to award the A-Brothers personal one-of-a-kind trophy to a custom car. As Mike explained it to me, he and Larry are looking for a custom built along the lines of something they might have found themselves involved with back in their day. It should be noted aside from building numerous customs, which include a handful of iconic efforts, the pair designed and built three Ridler award winners.

Larry was unable to attend but Mike, as enthusiastic and energetic as ever, did show up and walked the aisles many times until he settled in on Tony Feil of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, with his '40 Pontiac coupe, named "Super Chief." Other Jersey-based shops involved in the build are J&R Auto Body in Morristown for the paint and stitched at Master Upholstery in Newton. Ram's Rod Shop handled the construction at their place in Dover, Delaware. The Super Chief was customized using Pontiac parts from 1935-65.

Next up in the iconic category is Ford Racing Performance Parts as they enter their second year sponsoring STREET RODDER's Best Ford in a Ford award, presented by Ford Racing Performance Parts. This year the individual award winners will receive a custom jacket and a pair of FRPP valve covers.

Taking home the honors at the '10 Detroit Autorama is John "Jessie" James, from Racine, Wisconsin, for his brilliant Competition Orange Shadow Rods XL27 highboy roadster. Its debut was a winner for his roadster as it shows off the 351 Windsor crate engine beautifully detailed through the liberal use of paint and brightwork.

4/19The '32 chassis features a torsion bar setup to ensure a great ride to go along with great "attitude" as the roadster sits on its painted steelies. A C-4 automatic and Ford 9-inch rearend also rest between the Deuce 'rails.

Ron Lasker of East Aurora, New York, brought out his 1931 Ford Model A coupe that was just too good to pass up and not take home an Editor's Choice award from Brian Brennan. The five-window has all the elements of a traditional East Coast hot rod with the obligatory deep channel and top chop; look closely and you will see a rollbar peeking out of the top. Aside from the striking use of color and scallop paint, the folding soft top insert is an eye catcher.

The Flathead is fed by a pair of reversed Holley 94 carbs resting between Edelbrock heads. We asked Senior Editor Ron Ceridono about the intake and reversed carbs and he came up with the following information: "It appears to be a Hexagon Tool and Die intake. The advantage of turning the carbs around is they could be moved further forward for better-balanced runner lengths with the generator in the stock position."

5/19The 351 Windsor is nestled beneath the three-piece hood and well detailed, making it an easy pick for Best Ford in a Ford honors.

Ray Williams of Rhode Island showed up for the Basement festivities with his five-window highboy Deuce coupe. You can never go wrong with a highboy '32 when looking for a hot rod and Williams' coupe gets the job done with the striking use of louvers-everywhere. Other hot rod attire includes hairpin suspension, a dropped axle, and Buick finned drums. We aren't sure how many louvers there are but our first guess is something north of 400 louvers punched into the hood, roof, and decklid. For his efforts he received an Editor's Choice award from STREET RODDER Senior Editor Eric Geisert.

Every year the Detroit Autorama is the place to go and see some of the greatest hot rods ever built. It is also the place to go and see great examples of everyday hot rods-something we can all identify with. It's also great to know that the efforts of everyday hot rodders are rewarded.